Christmas 2013

The kids had such a wonderful Christmas.  It's crazy that the day is here and gone.  We had such a good time with family, and the little traditions we've started will hopefully last for years, and place a special reason to appreciate and love the reason for Christmas: Christ coming to demonstrate His love for us.  Christmas Eve was spent at Nana and Papa's house with all the Leavitt cousins:

Porter spent HOURS playing with his cousins, teaching them how to run the new Christmas train.

Nana and her grandkids watching "What's the Fox Say?"

 Here are all the cousins, waiting patiently to see if Santa visited at Nana's a day early...

Emma Rose found a "Snow White" dress and would not answer to Emma the entire night.  She was Snow White! 

After Christmas Eve service and dinner with cousins, Corey and the kids and I headed home and read Mary's song, where she thanked God for blessing her with the responsibility of being Jesus' mom.  

Then the kids dictated a letter for me to write to Santa.  At the end, Porter made me say thank you for Jesus. (Melt. My. Heart.)  We left a plate of cookies and carrots out for Santa and the reindeer under the stockings.  Very concerned, Porter moved the plate back about 4 feet from the fireplace so that Santa wouldn't accidentally step on them when (and if) he made it out of the fireplace.  (Porter was also pretty worried about Santa figuring out how to open up the glass to the fireplace.)  Emma Rose was just plain worried that the reindeer would put a hole in our roof, and made me promise to tell them to walk only on the floor.  They totally crack me up.

Christmas morning, Porter woke everyone up and made sure we all had our teeth brushed so we could go downstairs and see if Santa came.  I love this picture of them waiting at the top of the stairs for mom to get the camera ready... It reminds me of waiting with my brothers and sister for Papa T to get his camera ready!

Sure enough, Santa came, and to Porter's relief, he didn't bring coal.  The first thing that Porter noticed was that Santa left a bite of a cookie for Porter, which he promptly grabbed and ate.  (He left the reindeers' carrots, however...)

Santa even remembered to bring something for the kitties!!!

For the first time since his birth, Porter actually refused breakfast so that he could open presents.

After opening presents, Porter and Emma Rose each picked out their favorite new outfit and waited impatiently for Grandma and Grandpa to show up with even more presents.

That night we read about Jesus being born in a manger and we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus - Porter wanted to know if he had anymore presents coming from Jesus!  And Emma Rose, happy as usually, sang, Christmas is over! I love these kids, and my awesome husband, who made such a wonderful Christmas happen.  Merry Christmas, everyone!

Almost Christmas

The kids have had such a fun time with all the events leading up to Christmas day!  They stopped by to visit the reindeer when they came to town.  One of the reindeer was Rudolph's girlfriend, Clarisse.  

Porter was so cute at his preschool Christmas performance.  He loved singing about the bunny who ate the snowman's carrot nose.

And these two little love-birds have had a blast tearing apart every ornament and decoration they can get their paws on...but how can you stay mad at those faces?

Aunt Jenny and Uncle Justin joined the kids for a night of zoo lights!

There, we got to see Santa!  I love this picture of the kids peaking in on Santa...

With two more days 'til Christmas, the kids are so excited. Such a special time of the year...

Thankful

We are so thankful for one of the best Thanksgiving holidays of our lives.  Between the stage that the kids are at, their joy and enthusiasm for life, and their growing love for each other and the rest of their family, our hearts have been warmed and we've had so many reasons to smile this Thanksgiving holiday.

We kicked off the holiday season with Porter's mini-celebration at preschool.  He and his friends had a little skit prepared.  Porter's line was, "The Mayflower landed in Massachusetts," in part because he was the only kid in his class who could properly pronounce "Massachusetts." 

One of the cutest things to see in his classroom when I walked in was his "When I grow up I want to be..." response:

He sure loves his daddy.

One of the most fun days we had this month was spent on the beginner slopes with the kids.  They were SOOOO excited.  I was surprised at not only how well they did, but at how much they wanted to keep going.  Emma Rose kept saying that she wanted to go up the "forklift" again.  She maneuvered the line all by herself, skate-walking from the end of the line right up to the chair.  She was the talk of the slope.  Porter also had a blast, but was ready to pack up and go before Emma Rose even thought about stopping for the day.

Here's a little highlight video:

Of course the highlight of the holiday for the kids was absolutely hanging out with cousins.  After a nice Thanksgiving celebration with family, both Porter and Emma Rose have talked, nonstop, about how much they love each of their cousins.

The day after Thanksgiving, as always, we decorated for Christmas, listened to Christmas music, and the kids enjoyed hot chocolate.

That night we joined cousins again and watched Santa come to the town of Littleton and light up all the trees.  Porter was so excited... you can see it in his face as he waved and smiled when Santa got close.

We are so thankful for a beautiful family and such vibrant, fun, and hilarious kids.

Halloween Week 2013

 Between pumpkin carving, Porter's preschool Halloween party, Trick-or-Treat Street with cousin Haley, and trick-or-treating with all their little friends on Halloween night, Porter and Emma Rose had a fun-packed Halloween week.  Porter went as a construction worker, and Emma Rose went as a kitty.  Both kids were SO proud of their costumes! I love holidays with the kids.

Somebody loves her big brother...

"The Punkin Festibal!!!"

Porter and Emma Rose have been asking all week if it's Sunday yet because they've been SO excited to go to the "Punkin Festibal" with their cousins, Avery, Ansley, and Caroline.  Proof in the pictures, they all had a blast and the cousins absolutely adore each other.

Happy Fall from the Leavitt-Sowa clan!